Obituary of Frances Blauvelt Smith

Frances Blauvelt Smith, mother of Darien resident Elizabeth Smith Mao, died Wednesday, August 20, at Stamford Hospital. Mrs. Smith was 94 years old. Mrs. Smith was born in New York City on December 13, 1913, the daughter of the late Alice and Arthur Blauvelt. During World War II, Mrs. Smith was a legal secretary with the Department of the Navy in Panama. Following the death of her husband in 1960, Mrs. Smith returned to school in order to fulfill her life long wish to become a Registered Nurse, graduating from the United Hospital School of Nursing in Portchester, NY. A long-time resident of Ossining, New York and Lake Worth, Florida, Mrs. Smith had been employed both as a hospital nurse and as a teacher of nursing aides. Mrs. Smith was an avid Bridge player and enjoyed volunteering as a docent at the Flagler Museum in Palm Beach. Mrs. Smith was a long-time member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Lantana, Florida. Mrs. Smith was predeceased by her husband, Harry M. Smith, and a sister, Jesse B. Barcus. She is survived by her Darien daughter, Elizabeth Smith Mao, and son-in-law Tom Mao, and her son, Charles L. Smith, and daughter-in-law Alice Smith of Centerville, GA. Her sister, Barbara Blauvelt, of North Branford, CT also survives her, as well as four grandchildren, Victoria and Olivia Mao of Darien, Cameron Smith of New York City, and Travis Smith of Tampa, Fl. At her request, Mrs. Smith will be cremated. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 AM on Thursday, Aug. 28 at St. John R.C. Church, 1986 Post Road, Darien. A reception will be held at Woodway Country Club in Darien following. Internment at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery on Friday, August 29, will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Families with Children from China Orphanage Assistance, PO Box 237065 Ansonia Station, New York, NY 10023. Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Edward Lawrence Funeral Home, Darien. Funeral Home: Edward Lawrence Funeral Home 2119 Post Road Darien, CT USA 06820